Electric switch structure



E. W. PRIGAN.

kELECTRIC SWITCH STRUCTURE.

APPLICAIUN FILED NV.30,1917 l,382,385. Patented June 21, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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ELECTRIC SWITCH STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 3o, 1917.

Patented June 21, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

"TIT

E. W. PRIGAN.

ELECTRTC SWITCH STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED N0v.30,1917.

1,382,385, PatentedJune2L1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

TU/62 LUT VUNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

ERNEST W. PRIS-AN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO H, C. NAYLOB.AND S. H. KEENEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA..

ELECTRIC SWITCH STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent:

Patented June 21, 1921.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST W. PRIGAN, a citizen of the United States,reslding at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric SwitchStructures, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in electric switch structures withcoperating locks.

One of the objects of -my invention is to provide an electric switch,vfor controlling one or more electric circuits; for coincidentallyrotating a spindle or Valve stemto manipulate a valve', or to move abolt or the like, and a coperating lock, preferably of the permutationtype, for locking and unlocking the -movable instrumentalities toprevent unauthorized use of the' circuit or other objects controlled bysaid movable switch member. A

Other, further and more specific-objects of my invention'will becomereadlly apparent to persons skilled in the art, from a consideration ofthe following description taken in conjunction with the drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a section of the device taken on line 1'1 of Fig. 4.f v I Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the uppe'rfpart of the switch and lockcasing.

Fig. 3 is an axial sectionytaken'on line 3-3 OffFig. 1. j

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower par't of the switch and lock casingshowing the mechanism in locked position. y

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in unlocked position.

Fig. 6 is a diametric section showing also, 1n plan view,'several of thetumblers of the lock.

Fig. 7 shows the device applied to an automobile to guard the electriccircuits andthe gas line.

Fig. 8 is a dial and spindle for manipulating the tumblers of the lockfrom the dash board of the vehicle.

Fig. 9 is a-perspective view of a sleeve upon which the tumbler disks ofthe lock are rotatably mounted.

In all the views the same reference characters refer always to the sameparts.

In the drawings I have illustrated one embodiment which my invention maytake,

.with a notch 41 reserving, however, the right to vary or modify theform and arrangementA or disposition of the parts within the scope ofthe appended claims. Y

My improved lock structure is adapted and arranged for closing one ormore electric circuits, when the switch is unlocked and for opening saidcircuit or circuits so as, to renderthem inoperative when the device islocked. I

Simultaneously with the movements of the switch member I may move otherinstrumentalities to close or open a valve; move a bolt, or toaccomplish other similar results. Thus inthe illustrative exemplication,a rotatable spindle, when released by the lock serves as an operativemedium for moving a switch member and for opening and closing theval-ve. These agencies are so adjusted, with respect to each other, thata given movement of the spindle will open' (or close, as the case maybe) a valve, and the same extent of movement will cordinately open orclose one orl more electric circuits. e

'The casing inclosing the switch, valve and lock structure, consistsof\two parts, the top part 15 and the lower part 16, adaptedv to be heldtogether by screws 18, or the like. 'An annular, projecting hub 17, ofthe lowerportion of the casing, is bored to contain a valve 19. ITheupper end of the valve stem 20 has mounted on it, within the casing 23,a slotted arm 24 provided with a hub 25 having a set screw 26'passingtherethrough into contact with the stem 20. A bore 27 flanks the bore inwhich the valve 19 iscontained, and is screw threaded, as at 28 -and 29,for the screw threaded fittings 30 and 31, respectively. These-fittingsare connected to the sections 32 and 33, respectively, of the line ofipe which conveys the gasolene from a suit'aElereservoir to thecarbureter 34, adapted for use with the engine a shown, The upperportion 15, of the casing is provided with a central hub 36 throughwhich passes a spindle 37, carries on its lower end the tumbler disk 38having an angular perforation 39, whereby it may be secured to the lowerend of the spindle "37, as by a screw 40. The tumbler 38 is therej forefixed 'to the spindle 37 so that it alw'ays rotates positivelytherewith. It is provided having an'oblique or tangential boundary 42.and an abrupt shoulder 43. Projecting downwardly, from one side of theslot 41, is a pin 44, for engagement with a tumbler disk 46 whichrotates with tumbler disk 45 freely upon the sleeve 47.

Rising centrally of the chamber 23, within the two part casing, is astud 48 which is coaxial with the bore in which the spindle 37 isrotatable. A disk 49 of insulating material, is centrally bored toreceive the lower end of the sleeve 47. This disk carries a plate 50having a part 51 projecting from one side ofthe axis and securedtogether by rivets or 'screws 52, so that the twol plates may be rotatedtogether, when occasion requires. Pivoted on the stud 53, which issecured to the projection 51 of the plate 50, is a dog 54, having a head55 which is capablev of substantially radial movement, with reference tothe disk axis or stud 48. A spring 56, having o-ne of its ends securedto a small stud 57 and the other end to the head 55 of the dog 54,yieldingly holds the head of the dog on the peripheral surfaces of thedisks 38, 45 and 46. When the notches 41, 57 and 58`of the disks 38, 45and 46, respectively are brought into transverse coin cidence, as shownin Fig. 4, the spring 56 will push the head 55 vof the dog, into thespace in the tumbler disks left vacant by the notches. When the partsoccupy this position, as shown in Fig. 4, then upon rotation of thespindle 37 to the right, the head 55 of the dog will engage theshoulders 4provided by the notches in the tumbler disks,4

and the plates 49 and 50 may thereby be rotated to a position limited bya stop pin 60 which projects vertically from the Hoor of the lower part16 of the casing. Project'ing u wardly from the floor is anothersegmenta -shaped stop 61, to limit the movement of the disks 49 and 50,in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 5. A pin 62 projectsupwardly from the plate 49 and enters the slot of the arm 24, b-y meansof which the valve 19 is oscillated, so as 'to cut oi'vthe supply ofliquid fuel `that normally passes through the sections 32 and 33 of thefuel pipe, when the system is rotated to the right, and whereby thevalve is moved in the oppositedirection to open communication betweenthe pipe sections and close vsaid electric circuits when the system isturned to vthe left, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

When it is desired to'move the disks 49 and 50 to the left, to open thevalve and to unlock or close the circuits, to be hereafter described,the oblique wall 42 of the notch 41, in the disk 38, will lift the head55 of the dog, outu of the slots in which. it has been placed so that itis then in position to ride on the peripheral surfaces f the threedisks. After the head has been raised, in `the manner described. out ofthe notches 41.

57 and 58, the pin 44 on the disk 38 will en gage the lupwardlyextending pin 65 on the middle disk 45, which is in the circumfer`ential path of the pin 44, as usual in cornmutation locks, therebymoving the notches out of register and destroying the combination whichmay again be brought into reg istration by the usual procedure in theoperation of permutation or combination locks, through theinstrumentalities of the disks 38, 45 and 46 and the respective pins 44,65 and 66.

The series of holes, placed around and near the periphery of the disks45 and 46, are for the purpose of accommodating the pins 65 and 66 whenmoved into new locations when it is desirable to change the combinationof the lock, as usual in locks of this character.

Projecting radially from the casing members 15 andv 16, and preferablyas integral parts of the respective members are two-part cup members. 67and 68. T hese members are all alike and are adapted to register, whenthe two parts of the casing are in proper assembled relation, andtherefore I have marked the semi-cup members on the upper part of thesection by the reference character 67 and the corresponding cup members,on the lower section 16, with the reference character 68. Each of thecup members contains a two part insulation cup member 69 and 70, in theupper and lower members 15 and16, respectively. Each of the cup membersis perforated, as at 71, and 72, in the upper and lower parts 15 and 16,to provide an opening for metallic conduits 73. Each of the cup membersin the lower part of the casing is provided with insulated, electric,yieldingly movable spring contacts, which are all `alike in everyrespect, and I will, therefore, describe one and mark the others withcorresponding reference characters. These contacts are contained solelyin the lowerpart of the casing, but equallyv in the respective cupmembers of said casing parts. A screw threaded insulatin sleeve projectsinto each cup member sufficiently to prevent the nut 76 from touchingthe metallic partof the casing. A stud 77 having an axial cavity in itsinner end is secured within the screw threaded sleeve 75 and is providedwith a radially projecting threaded stem 78 for the nuts 76 and 79 towhich the wires 80 of the respective circuits are to be connected. Theinner end of the stud 77 is bored for an axial movable contact member 81which is yieldingly held inwardly by a spring' 82. The member' 81 isprovided with a transversely extending pin 83 which moves in thetransverse slot 84. A number of other contacts 86, 87,88, 89 and 9 0,may be spaced around the casing and project into the chamber, within thecasing, for the terminals of as many circuits as desired, within thecapacity, of the device.

AContacts 81 and 86 are for the accommodacommodation of another circuit,therefore.

the device, as shown, will open three circuits, when the mechanism is inlocked position, thereby preventing the unauthorized use of threelcircuits that may be concomitant parts of an automobile starting system.Mounted uponthe disk 50, and carried therewith, are segments ofconducting material forl the purpose oi bridging the respective pairs ofcontacts when it is desired to close the circuit therebetween. Thesegment 91 will close the circuit between the yielding contacts 81 and86, and at the same time the segment 92 will close the lcircuit betweensimilar contacts 87 and 88 while the' 'segment 93 will close the circuitbetwen the contacts 89 and 90 when the'parts are in the position shownin Fig. 4. When the parts are moved, into the positions shown in Fig. 5,these bridging segments are disconnected from the respective contactsand the circuits are thereby opened and when the circuits are opened thevalve 19 is closed, by the same major in- .strumentality that moves thesaid circuitopening mechanism.

The plate 49 is provided with inwardlyextending tongues 95,-that enterthe diametrically opposite notches 96 in the sleeve 47 to prevent thesleeve from rotating. Separating washers 98 and 99 are placed betweenthe tumbler disks and 46 and are placed below the washers so thatrotation yof the respective disks will not be communicated to eachother. Connected together, by universal joints 104, and communicatingwith a horizontally placed spindle 105 1s a lthree rpart rod which isconnected with a twirling knob 106 that 'may be placed upon the'instrument board 107 of an automobile for operating the tumblerldisksand subsequently' rotating the circuit closing and -valve closing means.The twirling knob 106 carries a dial 108 thatis rotated therewith withreference tota fixed point or index 109. A similar dial, 110, may befixed to the hub 36, of

'table member within said chamber,

the instrument, and a pointer or index 111, may be fixed Either dial andindex may be used and different numerals for moving the tumbler disks tothe same position may be indicated on the respective dials when desired.A

The conduit tubing 73, through which the to the rotatable spindle 87.v

wires are carried into the'chamber within the casing, is provided on itsinner end withV a Washer 73', so that the conduits cannot be pulled outofthe orifices in which they are contained, when the two parts 15 and 16of the casing are put together.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1.A In a device of thecharacter described comprising a two-part casing containing acircular-chamber and a plurality of radiallyprojectingterminal-encompassing cups, each for inclosing an electric terminal; a'circuit terminal within each cup, having a contact extending into thechamber; a rotatable member within said chamber, carrying connectors toconnect said terminals in pairs, when rotated; operating means extendingoutside of the chamber to rotate said rotatable member and a permutationlock for connecting and disconnecting said ,operating means tosaid'rotatable means.

2. A device of the character described comprising a two-part casingcontaining av circular chamber and aplurality ofradiallyprojectingterminal-encompassing cups, a circuit terminal within each cup,- havinga contact extending into the chamberg'a rotacarrying connectors toconnect said terminals in pairs, when rotated; acombination lock, havinga member connected with said rotatable membertand anothermember'con-nected to an operatin means, for operating the tumblers ofsai lock, and subsequently to rotate said rotatable member.`

In testimony Whereo I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ERNEST W. PRIGAN.

In the presence of IIARRY A. FnN'roN,

EDWIN STEnRs. l

